GOP debate fact check: Jeb Bush did not bend in opposition to casino gambling
Viewers of the second Republican presidential debate heard inflated claims about Planned Parenthood abortion practices and the risks of vaccines, as well as a dubious assertion by Donald Trump that he wasn’t interested in establishing casinos in Florida back in Jeb Bush‘s days as a candidate for governor. Some of the claims in the debate Wednesday night and how they compare with the facts: TRUMP: “I’m in favor of vaccines, do them over a longer period of time, same amount, but just in little sections and I think you’re going to see a big impact on autism.” THE FACTS: Medical researchers have debunked claims that vaccines given to children can lead to autism and developmental disorders. The Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, says vaccines are not free from adverse effects, “but most are very rare or very mild.” A study that drew a connection between autism and vaccines was retracted in 2010. For all of that, Trump asserted that a child of one of his employees “went to have the vaccine and came back and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic.” With those remarks, Trump waded into subject matter that had scalded a few others on the stage. In February, Paul said he’d heard of “many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines.” But he quickly backed down under criticism from pediatric experts and others, and endorsed vaccines. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, too, clarified that he supported the measles vaccine after appearing to question it. — BUSH: “The one guy that had some special interests that I know of that tried to get me to change my views on something – that was generous and gave me money – was Donald Trump. He wanted casino gambling in Florida.” TRUMP: “I didn’t. … Totally false….” BUSH: “I’m not going to be bought by anybody.” TRUMP: “I promise if I wanted it, I would have gotten it.” THE FACTS: Trump’s hopes of expanding casino operations in Florida in the mid-1990s were well known at the time. Trump employed a prominent lobbyist to represent his gambling interests in Florida. And news reports from that time show he hosted a fundraiser to help Bush’s campaign for governor and donated $50,000 to the Florida Republican Party during that campaign. Bush did not bend in his opposition to casino gambling. It is not clear whether Trump approached Bush directly on the casino matter, but his interest in the enterprise is a matter of record. — TEXAS SEN. TED CRUZ: “On these videos, Planned Parenthood also essentially confesses to multiple felonies. It is a felony with 10 years’ jail term to sell the body parts of unborn children for profit. That’s what these videos show Planned Parenthood doing.” THE FACTS: The Center for Medical Progress released five videos showing furtively recorded conversations with Planned Parenthood officials, recorded by people posing as representatives of a fictitious private company that buys fetal tissue for researchers. In the videos, Planned Parenthood officials discuss how they obtain tissue from aborted fetuses for research, how they decide how much to charge and how it’s possible to alter the procedure to enhance the chances of recovering the organs being sought. But the officials also repeatedly say they are only allowed by law to recover costs, not to make a profit. The videos don’t unambiguously show otherwise. — CHRIS CHRISTIE: “In New Jersey, we have medical marijuana laws, which I’ve supported and implemented.” THE FACTS: Christie has gone slow in implementing New Jersey’s medical marijuana law, which was signed before he took office, and has argued it is little more than “a front for legalization.” Medical marijuana in New Jersey is tightly restricted and state lawmakers said Christie’s administration has placed “arbitrary and unnecessary” restrictions on the program. Patients and doctors, for instance, must register with the state and pay a $200 fee apiece. Only patients suffering from one of six conditions, including terminal cancer, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy, may apply. — TRUMP: “In Wisconsin, you’re losing $2.2 billion right now. … I would do so much better than that.” WISCONSIN GOV. SCOTT WALKER: “Mr. Trump, you’re using the talking points of the Democrats. … We balanced a budget.” THE FACTS: Trump’s figures are way out of date. Wisconsin, like many states, is required by law to balance its budgets. Last year, the Legislature’s budget-watchers projected that a $1 billion surplus would accrue by June of this year. Walker and his GOP-run legislature later passed a series of tax cuts. But state revenues slowed and by November the projected surplus had turned into a $2.2 billion projected shortfall. After making a series of budget cuts to compensate, Walker in July signed a budget that was balanced, as the law requires. — TRUMP: “I want to build a wall, a wall that works. So important, and it’s a big part of it.” BEN CARSON: “I was down in Arizona a few weeks ago at the border. I mean, the fences that were there were not manned, and those are the kind of fences when I was a kid that would barely slow us down. So, I don’t see any purpose in having that.” THE FACTS: The expectation that a fence all along the border with Mexico could stop illegal crossings is not borne out by the fencing that’s already been built – about 700 miles of it. But neither is that fence as porous as Carson suggests. The reality is somewhere in between. Maintaining the existing multibillion-dollar fencing has been a time-consuming task for Border Patrol agents, who routinely patrol the fence line looking for holes or other damage. It was never designed, or expected, to block all illicit traffic from coming across the border, but instead to act as a deterrent and slow those who try crossing on foot. Even so, a fence section that appears unmanned is not
Sen. Bobby Singleton: “This is the right time to legalize medical marijuana”
Amidst reports that his Medical Marijuana Patient Safe Access Act (SB326) may never make it to the House floor, bill sponsor Senator Bobby Singleton said this morning, “I’m optimistic. We’re early in this process – just halfway through this session – and there’s a process for these things.” In an interview with Alabama Today, Senator Singleton said reports that Rules Committee Chairman Senator Jabo Waggoner called the bill “dead” didn’t diminish his resolve for getting the legislation passed this session. “I respect the Senator and his position – and he may vote against the bill – but we’ll be asking his committee to give the bill consideration.” Sen. Singleton also said that he would consider other options for advancing the bill, including a constitutional amendment. “I’m all for the people’s right to vote. It’s entirely possible that we’ll put it before the people and let them have their say.” The Medical Marijuana Patient Safe Access Act would allow patients with one of 25 “serious medical conditions” to be prescribed marijuana by a qualifying physician. Singleton says he introduced the bill after hearing from constituents who were obtaining marijuana illegally in order to manage chronic pain. The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a public hearing on the bill for this Wednesday, but canceled the public comment period at the last minute. Instead, the committee issued a favorable report on the bill by a 4-3 vote. Reports by AL.com suggest that the legislation crossed that hurdle because several Republican members weren’t in attendance on Wednesday: Arthur Orr, Greg Reed and Tom Whatley were absent and Sen. Greg Albritton declined to vote. During the meeting, Sen. Phil Williams raised concerns that the bill would encourage dependency or addiction to other illegal drugs. “I’ve worked with a lot of messed up kids,” he said. “All of those who were addicts never intended to become addicts. But in all cases, marijuana was the gateway drug that led them down that path. I’ve seen too many devastated lives to give my support to this bill.”
Roll one up (soon): Senate panel passes Medical Marijuana Act
[Editor’s Note: This updates an earlier story on AlToday.com] The debate over legalizing medical marijuana in Alabama will continue as lawmakers in the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a favorable report on SB 326, known as the Medical Marijuana Patient Safe Access Act. Wednesday afternoon’s 4-3 vote spurred applause in a hearing room packed with advocates. Sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, the act would allow patients with one of 25 “serious medical conditions” to be prescribed marijuana by a qualifying physician. “There are too many citizens in chronic pain,” Singleton said. “We’ve been demonizing marijuana for too long and we’re now starting to hear from the medical community that there are real benefits in marijuana treatment.” The legislation states that after a full medical evaluation, physicians would assign patients to one of three classes of medical marijuana recipients, based on the level of their prescription: Class One: Allows a qualified patient or designated caregiver to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical-grade marijuana per month or grow no more than 8 ounces (or eight plants per patient) with a medical grow license. Class Two: Allows patients or caregivers to buy up to five ounces of medical marijuana per month or grow as much as 12 ounces (12 plants per patient) with a license. Class Three: Allows a monthly purchase of up to 16 ounces medical marijuana. Patients could also grow up to 16 ounces of cannabis, or 16 plants, with a license. Patients with a prescription from a qualifying physician would then be able to purchase or grow medical-grade cannabis without prosecution. The bill requires patients to apply for a medical marijuana identification card from their county health department and pay a $100 registration fee. The health department would collect data on patient use and compliance with the medical plan. The bill also states that employers cannot discriminate against employees who have prescription cards, though employees would not be able to use medical marijuana while on the job. The legislation will still face hurdles as it continues through the Senate. Sen. Phil Williams raised concerns that the bill would encourage dependency or addiction to other illegal drugs. “I’ve worked with a lot of messed up kids,” he said. “All of those who were addicts never intended to become addicts. But in all cases, marijuana was the gateway drug that led them down that path. I’ve seen too many devastated lives to give my support to this bill.” Other lawmakers urged for greater safeguards against abuse by patients and service providers. Last year, Gov. Robert Bentley passed Carly’s Law, legalizing use of a nonintoxicating marijuana extract known as cannabidiol or CBD. If lawmakers pass this legislation, Alabama would join 23 other states that allow marijuana for medical purposes.
Senate committee to hear medical marijuana bill
Wednesday afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear debate on Alabama joining 23 other states to allow medical marijuana. Medical Marijuana Patient Safe Access Act, Senate Bill 326, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton would allow patients with what the bill defines as “serious medical conditions” to be prescribed marijuana. Qualifying conditions include: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS – Lou Gehrig’s Anorexia. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/ deficit disorder (ADD). Autism. Bipolar disorder. Cachexia. Cancer. Cerebral palsy. Chronic depression. Chronic pain. Dystonia. Fibromyalgia. Gastrointestinal disorders, including, but not limited to, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Glaucoma. Lupus Migraine. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Parkinson’s disease. Persistent muscle spasms, including, but not limited to, spasms associated with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS-Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Rheumatoid arthritis. Seizures, including, associated with epilepsy. Severe nausea. Tourette’s syndrome. Any other chronic or but not limited to, seizures persistent medical symptom that either: Substantially limits the ability of the person to conduct one or more major life activities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336). If not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the patient’s safety or physical or mental health. The hearing is scheduled for the Senate Judiciary Committee at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Room 325 of the Alabama Statehouse.
